Latch means for plier type toggle wrench



Sept. 30, 1958 w. PETERSEN LATCH MEANS FOR PLIER TYPE TOGGLE WRENCH Filed Nov. 30, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILL/AM PETERSEN ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1958 w. PETERSEN LATCH MEANS FOR PLIER TYPE TOGGLE WRENCH Filed Nov. 50, 1956 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VENTOR W/L LIAM PETERSEN BY W20 ATTORNEYS Sept. 30, 1958 w. PETERSEN 2,853,910

LATCH MEANS FOR PLIER TYPE TOGGLE WRENCH Filed Nov. so, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 3 90 as, 74 a2 IN VENTOR WILL lAM PETERSEN ATTORNEYS United States Patent O LATCH MEANS FOR PLIER TYPE TOGGLE WRENCH William Petersen, De Witt, Nebr.

Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,460

Claims. (Cl. 81-.-368) This invention relates to tools and more particularly to a latch means for plier type toggle wrenches and is an improvement over the device shown and claimed in my prior Patent No. 2,280,005, issued April 14, 1952.

Plier type toggle wrenches have long been utilized by mechanics for various operations and these tools have commonly employed a toggle mechanism so designed as to pass over dead center and thereby lock the gripping jaws in gripping position. These wrenches have commonly been provided with adjusting means to adjust the distance between the gripping jaws thereby permitting the gripping of objects of different size and shape and furthermore, this adjusting means provides for convenient adjustment of the gripping force exerted by the jaws.

These prior art toggle wrenches have been released or opened by pulling the operating handles apart to break the toggle and, of course, the force required to separate the handles and break the toggle varies according to the gripping force exerted by the jaws. Consequently, where it was desired to utilize the maximum mechanical advantage of the toggle in clamping or gripping work between the jaws, the force required to break the toggle and open the jaws was relatively high and considerable difficulty was often experienced in performing this operation, particularly where the wrench was situated in a relatively confined space.

Where the handles of the wrench are pulled apart by the hands of the operator to break the toggle and open the jaws, the handles frequently fly apart with considerable force and where there are closely surrounding objects, the hands of the operator frequently contact the same often inflicting minor but painful injury. It has been found that the most convenient way to open the jaws of these toggle wrenches is to push one of the handles away from the other with the thumb of the hand gripping the stationary handle and since, considerable force can be exerted by the thumb in this manner, it is relatively easy to break the toggle and open the jaws, even though the jaws are tightly clamped on an ob ject. However, this method of operation cannot always be used, due to the proximity of surrounding objects with the result that the handles must be separated in some other manner, such as by pulling apart and often with the undesirable results noted above.

Briefly stated, the present invention proposes to overcome this difliculty by so designing the toggle mechanism that the same does not pass over dead center, but operates to close the jaws in clamping position just prior to reaching dead center. Consequently, the toggle is not self-locking and in order to lock the jaws in clamping position there is provided a latch bar pivotally mounted on one of the handles and having a portion engaging one of the toggle links to lock the same in clamping position. The jaws are. conveniently released merely by depressing the latch bar which serves to release the latch and allow'the jaws to move apart. Various forms of latches are provided by this invention and also, various means are provided to lock the latch bar in inoperative position when it is desired to utilize the wrench as a plier without locking the jaws in clamping position.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a latch means for plier type toggle wrenches which may be applied thereto with only minor modification of the wrench and which will efficiently operate to lock the jaws in clamping position and which may be conveniently operated to release the jaws from such clamping position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of latch means for plier type toggle wrenches and including means to lock the latch means in inoperative position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a plier type toggle wrench including toggle mechanism to move the jaws to clamping position in which the toggle mechanism does not pass over dead center and is, therefore, not self-locking, there being provided a latch means for releasably locking the jaws in clamping position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a latch means for plier type toggle Wrenches which is automatically operable to latch the clamping jaws in clamping position and which may be conveniently operated to release the jaws from clamping position merely by depressing a finger engaging portion.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a latch means for plier type toggle wrenches which may be conveniently and economically manufactured from readily available materials and applied to a conventional plier type toggle wrench with only minor modifications of such wrench thereby permitting the manufacture and sale of the device in a highly competitive market.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a plier type toggle wrench constructed in accordance with this invention and incorporating a latch means for locking the clamping jaws in clamping position and with the latch means in operative position;

Fig. 2 an elevational view of the toggle wrench shown in Fig. 1 with the jaws open and with the latch means in inoperative position;

Fig. 3 an elevational view similar to Fig. l, but showing a slightly modified form of the latch means of this invention and showing particularly, a modified spring for actuating the latch means and for locking the same in inoperative position;

Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing in elevation the toggle wrench of Fig. 3 with the jaws in open position;

Fig. 5 a view in elevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing a still further modified form of latch means with such latch shown in full lines in locking position and shown in dotted lines in inoperative position; and

Fig. 6 an elevational view showing the wrench of Fig. 5 in open position.

With continued reference to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a plier type toggle wrench constructed in accordance with this inven tion and which may well include an elongated handle 10 having a fixed gripping jaw 11 at one end thereof. If desired, the jaw 11 may be provided with serrated gripping teeth 12, although any desired type or shape of jaw may be utilized. An opposing jaw 13 is pivot'ally mounted on the handle 10 by a pivot pin or other suitable means 14 and the jaw 13 may be provided with serrated gripping teeth 15 similar to the teeth 12. A tension spring 16 has one 'end 17 connected to a hook 18 on the handle 10 and the opposite end 19 of the spring 16 is connected to an ear 20 on the pivoted jaw 13. As will be seen from the drawing, the tension 3 spring 16 operates to move the pivoted jaw 13 away from the fixed jaw 11.

An actuating lever 21 is pivotally mounted at the inner end thereof on the pivoted jaw 13 by a pivot pin or other suitable means 22 and it is to be noted, that the actuating lever 21 is disposed in the plane of the handle 10. A link 23 is pivotally connected at one end by a pivot pin or other suitable means 24 to the actuating lever 21 and the opposite end 25 of the link 23 engages an adjustable abutment 26 on the handle 10. The abutment 26 may take the form of a screw threaded member 27 threadedly received in the end 28 of the handle and a finger engaging knob29 may be provided on the outer end of the screw threaded member 27 to permit convenient adjustment of the same.

It will therefore be seen, that the actuating lever 21 andthe link 23 constitute a toggle mechanism whereby upon movement of the actuating lever 21 toward the handle 10, the pivoted jaw 13 will be moved toward the fixed jaw 11 to engage the same or clamp work therebetween. The spacing between the fixed jaw 11 and the pivoted jaw 13 may be varied by adjusting the abutment 26 which will also operate to adjust the clamping force exerted by the jaws 11 and 13 when the toggle mechanism is in jaw closing position. It is to be noted, that the toggle mechanism is so designed that when the jaws 11 and 13 are in clamping position that the toggle mechanism does not pass over dead center and is consequently, not self-locking. The clamping position is reached just prior to dead center thereby utilizing substantially the maximum mechanical advantage provided by the toggle mechanism, but since the toggle mechanism does not pass over dead center and is not self-locking, release of the actuating lever 21 will result in the jaws 11 and 13 moving apart under the action of the tension spring 16.

In order to lock the gripping jaws 11 and 13 in clamping or gripping position there is provided a latch bar 30 pivotally mounted by a pivot pin or other suitable means 31 on the actuating lever 21 and the latch bar 30 is provided with a latch portion 32 extending at substantially right angles thereto toward the handle 10 and the latch portion 32 terminates in a hook-shaped latch 33. The latch bar 30 and the latch 33 is urged toward latching position by a compression spring 34 disposed between the latch bar 30 and the inner surface of the actuating lever 21. Movement of the latch bar 30 and the latch 33 beyond latching position is prevented by a stop in the form of a pin 35 secured to the actuating lever 21 and disposed in the path of movement of the latch bar 30.

An overhanging latch engaging lip 36 is provided on the link 23 and as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the lip 36 engages under the latch 33 to securely lock the jaws 11 and 13 in gripping position. The latch bar 30 is provided with a finger engaging portion 37 and when it is desired to release the jaws 11 and 13, it is only necessary to depress the finger engaging portion 37 toward the actuating lever 21 which will operate to move the latch 33 out of engagement with the lip 36 thereby releasing the toggle mechanism and permitting the jaws 11 and 13 to open underthe action of tension spring 16. It is to be noted, that the hook-shaped latch 33 provides a cam surface 38 which engages overhanging lip 36 during closing movement of the actuating lever 21 which results in camming the latch 33 outwardly away from the lip 36 and permits such lip to snap under the latch 33 thereby automatically engaging the same upon the jaws 11 and 13 moving to clamping position.

When it is desired to utilize the wrench as a plier and not lock the jaws 11 and 13 in gripping position, means is provided to lock the latch bar 30 out of latching position and this means may well comprise a slide 39 slidably mounted on the finger engaging portion 37 of the latch bar 30 andprovided on the slide 39 is an abutment 40 which with the slide in the position shown in Fig. 2,

engages beneath the stop pin thereby holding the finger engaging portion 37 of the latch bar 30 in a depressed position and the latch 33 will be retained out of the path of movement of the latch engaging lip 36 in order to permit free movement of the actuating lever 21 and link 23 to operate the pivoted jaw 13. The latch bar 30 may be restored to operative position merely by moving the slide 39 and abutment outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown a slightly modified form of the invention and as described above, there is provided a plier type toggle wrench having a handle 41 to one end of which is fixed a gripping jaw 42 which may be provided with serrated teeth 43 for gripping work. Pivotally mounted on the handle 41 by a pivot pin 44 or other suitable means is a movable jaw 45 having serrated work engaging teeth 46. A tension spring 47 is secured at one end 48 to a hook 49 on the handle 41 and the opposite end 50 of the spring 47 is secured to an ear 51 on the movable jaw 45 and tends to move the jaw 45 away from the fixed jaw 42. An actuating lever 52 is pivotally mounted by a pin or other suitable means 53 at one end thereof, on the movable jaw 45 and a link 54 is connected by a pin or other suitable means 55 to the actuating lever 52 in spaced relation to the pivot pin 53. The opposite end 56 of the link 54 engages an adjustable abutment 57 on the handle 41 and such abutment 57 may be in the form of a screw threaded member 58 threadedly engaged with the end 59 of the handle 41 and provided with a finger engaging knob 60 to facilitate adjustment of the abutment 57. The link 54 and actuating lever 52 provide a toggle mechanism for moving the jaw 45 toward the jaw 42 and the spacing between these jaws may be varied by adjusting the abutment 57. The toggle mechanism is so designed that upon movement of the clamping jaws 45 and 42 to clamping position, the toggle mechanism will not pass over dead center and will, therefore, not be selflocking, but maximum clamping force will be applied just prior to reaching dead center.

Means for locking the jaws 42 and 45 in clamping or gripping position is provided in the form of a latch bar 61 pivotally mounted by a pin or other suitable means 62 on the actuating lever 52 and the latch bar 61 is provided with a latch portion 63 extending at substantially right angles to the bar 61 and terminating in a hookshaped latch 64. A portion 65 of the latch 64 provides a cam surface for a purpose to be presently described.

The link 54 is provided with an overhanging latch engaging lip 66 which, as shown in Fig. 3, engages under the hook-shaped latch 64 when the same is in latching position, as shown in full lines and in this position, the jaws 42 and 45 are locked in gripping position. The toggle mechanism may be released to permit the jaws 42 and 45 to separate by depressing the finger engaging portion 67 of the latch bar 61 which will operate to disengage the latch 64 from the lip 66 and permit the tension spring 47 to pull the jaw 45 away from the jaw 42.

In order to urge the latch 64 toward latchingposition as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, there is provided a leaf spring 68 secured intermediate the ends thereof by a rivet or other suitable means 69, to the actuating lever 52 and one end 70 of the spring 68 engages the latch bar 61 to move the same toward latching position, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Upon movement of the actuating lever 52 toward the handle 41 to close the jaws 42 and 45, the overhanging lip 66 on the link 54 will engage the cam surface 55 on the latch 64 and move the same outwardly to permit the lip 66 to snap under the latch 64 and be engaged thereby to lock the jaws 42 and 45 in clamping position.

At times it may be desirable, to render the latch means inoperative and for this purpose, the opposite end 71 of the spring 68 is curled to provide an overhanging hook-shaped latch 72 and the surface of the curled portion 71 in spaced relation to the end 72 provides a cam surface 73 which upon movement of the finger engaging portion 67 of the latch bar 61 toward the lever 52 is engaged thereby to cam the curled end 71 outwardly and permit the end of the latch bar 61 to snap under the latch 72, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. thereby holding the latch means inoperative. The latch may be released for normal operation by moving the curled end 71 of the spring 68 outwardly until such time as the end of the latch bar 61 is released and is moved to latching position by the spring 68.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by the particular nature of the spring for moving the latch mechanism to operative position and by the structure of the means for holding the latching means inoperative.

With particular reference to Figs. and 6, there is shown a further modified form of the invention in which there is provided a plier type toggle wrench having an elongated handle 74 with a fixed jaw 75 at one end thereof, this jaw being provided with serrated work gripping teeth 76. Pivotally mounted on the handle 74 by a pivot pin or other suitable means 77 is a movable jaw 78 which is also provided with work gripping serrated teeth 79. A tension spring 80 is connected at one end 81 to a hook 82 secured to the handle 74 and at the 0pposite end 83 is. connected to an car 84 on the movable jaw 78.

An actuating lever 85 is pivotally mounted at one end by a pivot pin or other suitable means 86 on the movable jaw 78 and a link 87 is pivotally connected at oneend by a pivot pin or other suitable means 88 to the actuating lever 85 in spaced relation to the pivot point 86. The opposite end 89 of the link 87 engages an adjustable abutment 90 on the handle 74 and the abutment 90 may take the form of a screw threaded member 91 threadedly engaging the end 92 of the handle 74 and the screw threaded member 91 may be provided with a finger engaging knob 93 to facilitate adjustment thereof.

It will be seen that the actuating lever 85 and the link 87 provide a toggle mechanism for moving the jaw 78 toward the fixed jaw 75 and into clamping position and the spacing between the jaws 75 and 78, when in clamping position, may be adjusted by suitable movement of the abutment 90. The toggle mechanism is so proportioned that when the jaws 75 and 78 are in clamping position, the toggle mechanism approaches but does not pass over dead center and consequently, the toggle mechanism is not self-locking, but when released will permit movement of the jaw 78 away from the jaw 75 under the action of tension spring 80.

Means is provided to lock the movable jaw 78 in clamping position with relation to the fixed jaw 75 and this means may take the form of a latch bar 94 pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 95 or other suitable means on the actuating lever 85 and the latch bar 94 is provided with a shoulder 96 having a surface 97 facing toward the pivot point 95 of the latch bar and inclined from the normal toward the pivot point 95. A latch engaging lip 98 is provided on the link 87 and the lip 98 is provided with a surface 99 which is complementary to the surface 97 on the latch bar 94 and, as clearly shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the surface 99 on the lip 98 is engaged by the surface 97 on the latch bar 94 to lock the jaws 75 and 78 in work engaging position. The operation of this latch is somewhat in the nature of the sear utilized in the trigger mechanism of a conventional rifle and operates with a sliding action, rather than by an abrupt release, as in the case of the latches described above in connection with the first two forms of the invention.

The latch bar 94 is provided with a finger engaging portion 100 for facilitating depression of the latch bar to disengage the latching surfaces 97 and 99 and in order to urge the latch bar 94 into latching position there is provided a leaf spring 101 secured at an intermediate point by a rivet or other suitable means 102 to the actu- 6 ating lever 85. One end 103 of the spring 101 engages the latch bar 94 and urges the same toward latching position. The opposite end 104 of the spring 101 is curled to provide an overhanging hook-shaped latch 105 which serves to engage the finger engaging portion of the latch bar 94, as shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 5, to. retain the latch bar 94 in inoperative position. Engagement of the latch bar 94 with the latch is facilitated by the cam surface 106 on the curled end 104 which is engaged by the end of the latch bar 94 to move the latch 105 out of the way and permit the end of the latch bar 94 to pass therebeneath. The latch 105 is disengaged from the latch bar 94 merely by moving the curled end 104 of the spring 101 outwardly which permits the latch bar 94 to return to operative position.

It will be seen by the above described invention that there has been provided a relatively simple means for locking the jaws of a plier type toggle wrench in work engaging position and for conveniently releasing; these jaws when desired, without the necessity of exerting any force whatsoever on the handles of the wrench. The jaws may be released. merely by depressing a latch bar which requires little effort on the part of the user and may be accomplished in a relatively limited space and consequently, is fully operative, regardless of surrounding objects. There has furthermore been provided, themes for rendering the latch means inoperative when it isdesired to utilize the wrench merely as a plier and it is further to be noted, that the latch means of this invention may be applied to conventional toggle type wrenches without major modification thereof and consequently with little additional cost of manufacture.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed aw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion extending toward said handle at substantially right angles to said finger engaging portion and terminating in a hook providing a latch having a cam surface, an overhanging latch engaging lip on said link, a compression spring disposed between said lever and the finger engaging portion of said latch bar to piv otally move said latch bar to latching position, stop means on said lever engageable with said latch bar to prevent movement beyond .latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position comprising a slide on said finger engaging portion and an abutment on said slide for engaging said stop means whereby with said latch bar in latching position and upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said lip will engage the cam surface of said latch to move the same and permit passage of said lipwhereupon said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

2. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw towards said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion extending toward said handle and termimating in a hook providing a latch having a cam surface, an overhanging latch engaging lip on said link, a com pression spring disposed between said lever and the finger engaging portion of said latch bar to pivotally move said latch bar to latching position, stop means on said lever engageable with said latch bar to prevent movement beyond latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position comprising a slide on said finger engaging portion and an abutment on said slide for engaging said stop means whereby with said latch bar in latching position and upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said lip will engage the cam surface of said latch to move the same and permit passage of said lip whereupon said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

3. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an ac tuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion extending toward said handle and terminating in a hook providing a latch, an overhanging latch engaging lip on said link, a compression spring disposed between said lever and the finger engaging portion of said latch bar to pivotally move said latch bar to latching position, stop means on said lever engageable with said latch bar to prevent movement beyond latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position comprising a slide on said finger engaging portion and an abutment on said slide for engaging said stop means whereby upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

4. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion extending toward said handle and having an abutment providing a latch, an overhanging latch engaging lip on said link, a compression spring disposed between said lever and the finger engaging portion of said latch bar to pivotally move said latch bar to latching position, stop means on said lever engageable with said latch bar to prevent movement beyond latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position comprising a slide on said finger engaging portion and an abutment on said slide for engaging said stop means whereby upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

5. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging amabutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to movesaid pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion extending toward said handle and having an abutment providing a latch, an overhanging latch engaging lip on said link, resilient means to pivotally move said latch bar to latching position, stop means on said lever engageable with said latch bar to prevent movement beyond latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position comprising a slide on said finger engaging portion and an abutment on said slide for engaging said stop means whereby upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

6. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationshiptosaid lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion extending toward said handle and having anabutment providing a latch, an overhanging latch en gaging lip on said link, resilient means to pivotally move said latch bar to latching position, stop means on said lever engageable with said latch bar to prevent movement beyond latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position comprising a slide on said finger engaging portion engageable with said stop means whereby upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

7. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw towards said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever and inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion extending toward said handle and having an abutment providing a latch, an overhanging latch engaging lip on said link, resilient means to pivotally move said latch bar to latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position comprising a slide on said finger engaging portion engageable with means on said lever whereby upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

8. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever,the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion on said bar extending toward said handle and providing a latch, a latch engaging lip on said link, resilient means for moving said latch bar to latching position and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position whereby with said latch bar in latching position and upon movement of said jaws toclamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

9. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the innerend on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle, a latch portion on said bar extending toward said handle and providing a latch, a latch engaging lip on said link and releasable means to lock said latch bar out of latching position whereby with said latch bar in latching position and upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip..

10. In a plier type toggle wrench including an elongated handle having a fixed jaw at one end, an opposing jaw pivotally mounted on said handle, resilient means for moving said pivoted jaw away from said fixed jaw and a toggle mechanism for moving said pivoted jaw toward said fixed jaw, said mechanism including an actuating lever pivotally mounted at the inner end on said pivoted jaw and disposed in the plane of said handle and a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever, the opposite end of said link engaging an abutment on said handle, said mechanism being so proportioned as to move said pivoted jaw into clamping engagement with said fixed jaw prior to reaching dead center, the combination of a releasable latch means comprising a latch bar pivotally mounted on said lever inwardly of the outer end and having a finger engaging portion disposed in spaced relationship to said lever between said lever and said handle,

a latch portion on said bar extending toward said handle andproviding a latch and a latch engaging lip on said link whereby with said latch bar in latching position and upon movement of said jaws to clamping position said latch will engage said lip to hold said jaws in clamping position, said jaws being released by movement of said finger engaging portion to disengage said latch from said lip.

11. A plier type toggle wrench as defined in claim 8,

in which said resilient means for moving said latch bar to latching position comprises a leaf spring secured intermediate the ends thereof to said lever with one end of said spring engaging said latch bar outwardly of the pivotal mounting thereof, the opposite end of said spring being curled to provide a cam surface disposed in the path of movement of the outer end of said finger engaging portion, the curled end of said spring terminating in spaced relation to the intermediate portion of said spring whereby upon movement of said finger engaging portion toward said lever into engagement with said cam surface, said curled end will snap over the outer end of said finger engaging portion to releasably retain said latch bar out of latching position.

12. A plier type toggle wrench as defined in claim 8 in which said resilient means for moving said latch bar to latching position comprises a leaf spring secured to said lever with one endof said spring engaging said latch bar, the opposite end of said spring being curled to provide 'a' cam surface disposed in the path of movement of the outer end of said finger engaging portion, the curled end of said spring terminating in spaced relation to the intermediate portion of said spring whereby upon movement of said finger engaging portion toward said lever into engagmeent with said cam surface, said curled end will snap over the outer end of said finger engaging portion to releasably retain said latch bar out of latching position.

13. A plier type toggle wrench as defined in claim 8,

which said resilient means for moving said latch bar to latching position comprises a leaf spring secured to said lever with one end of said spring engaging said latch bar, the opposite end of said spring being curled to provide a hook-shaped latch disposed in the path of movement of the outer end of said finger engaging portion whereby upon movement of said finger engaging portion toward said lever said hook-shaped latch will snap over the outer end of said finger engaging portion to releasably retain said latch bar out of latching position.

14. A plier type toggle wrench as defined in claim 8, in which said resilient means for moving said latch bar to latching position comprises a leaf spring secured to said lever with one end of said spring engaging said latch bar, the opposite end of said spring being curled to provide a hook-shaped latch disposed in the path of movement of said finger engaging portion whereby upon movement of said finger engaging portion toward said lever said hook-shaped latch will snap over said finger engaging portion to releasably retain said latch bar out of latching position.

15. A plier type toggle wrench as defined in claim 8, in which said latch comprises a shoulder having a surface facing toward the pivot point of said latch bar and inclined from the normal toward said pivot point and in which said latch engaging lip is provided with a surface complementary to and engaging the surface on said shoulder to releasably lock said jaws in clamping position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

2,201,918 Petersen May 21, 1940 2,368,906 Westman Feb. 6, 1945 2,521,276 Lampe Sept. 5, 1950 2,532,659 Burns Dec. 5, 1950 2,543,922 Mead Mar. 6, 1951 2,617,312 Prentice Nov. 11, 1952 2,672,778 Jones Mar. 23, 1954 2,711,663 Petersen June 28, 1955 2,714,198 Schloetzer luly 26, 1955 

